Minimum Wage for SoWal???

[SHELLY]

Very helpful link.

I doubt anyone can find a 2 bedroom apt. in sowal for $628/month but if we believe the data, those places are available within a 30-45 min commute of us.
Maybe this will be of help to someone.

(1) I don't believe in the data. (I'd believe in Santa first)

(2) Employers who do use this data should give their employees a list of these $628 per month apartments (including utilities) along with their wage offer.

(3) Doesn't adequately reflect apartments taken off the market for "condo conversions" or prices jacked up with "hurricane/real estate boom" premiums.

If business people in SoWal and Destin are using these numbers to justify low wages....they're going to end up getting what they paid for.

 

[Kimmifunn]

When I moved down there last year for "work" I scowered the place for "affordable" housing. I ended up renting an apartment in Destin- where I was working- at Legacy on the Bay. That was one of LITERALLY about 4 apartment complexes. There's nowhere to live. I was in a 2br and it was like $1050 or something like that. It was a super nice development. But unless I wanted to go over a bridge (Mid-Bay or 331) there's slim pickins. Sooo when they hand over that list I'd love to see it. Not to mention...those 4 complexes have HUGE waiting lists. I somehow walked in the same day someone cancelled moving in. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Sandestin offers housing... I came upon it and we had to ask around to figure it out. I also checked out a senior living home. I was desperate.

 

[Uncle Timmy]

(1) I don't believe in the data. (I'd believe in Santa first)

(2) Employers who do use this data should give their employees a list of these $628 per month apartments (including utilities) along with their wage offer.

(3) Doesn't adequately reflect apartments taken off the market for "condo conversions" or prices jacked up with "hurricane/real estate boom" premiums.

If business people in SoWal and Destin are using these numbers to justify low wages....they're going to end up getting what they paid for.

Well Ho, Ho, Ho

I spoke with a friend who has just moved into a one bedroom apartment in FWB and is paying $650/month.

He looked at places between FWB and Freeport and reports that one bedrooms ranged from $400 to $800 a month, two bedrooms from $600 to $1,000 a month.

 

[Kimmifunn]

http://www.legacyonthebay.com/s/homepage

4 Bedroom for $1500...not bad split 4 ways.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Re: "LIVING" Wage for SoWal???

I guess since no one has any idea of what is a living wage in SoWal, we are drifting to the question we must first answer in order to decipher the living wage? I can tell you from what I hear on the street, long-term rent, on avg for a 3/2 in SoWal is around $1300 per mo, plus utilities. Now, lets tackle the question, (and yes, I am changing it to "living wage") what is a living wage in SoWal?

 

[beachmouse]

My employer got tired of having prospective employees turn down job offers over the housing issue, and has ended up building its own apartment complex so that new faculty will at least have one affordable housing option. Right now the apartments are being described as priced below market rate, and they're within walking distance to work (nice because a working couple can get away with one car then). They're supposed to be finished with construction some time this summer. Pretty average looking small complex so far, but at least they've managed to keep a couple of the neat live oaks in the common areas. It'll be interesting to see how many people who work here take them up on the offer.

 

[Smiling JOe]

My employer got tired of having prospective employees turn down job offers over the housing issue, and has ended up building its own apartment complex so that new faculty will at least have one affordable housing option. Right now the apartments are being described as priced below market rate, and they're within walking distance to work (nice because a working couple can get away with one car then). They're supposed to be finished with construction some time this summer. Pretty average looking small complex so far, but at least they've managed to keep a couple of the neat live oaks in the common areas. It'll be interesting to see how many people who work here take them up on the offer.

That sounds great and should be posted on the affordable housing thread. I started this thread so that wages in SoWal could be discussed.

 

[SHELLY]

Well Ho, Ho, Ho
I spoke with a friend who has just moved into a one bedroom apartment in FWB and is paying $650/month.
He looked at places between FWB and Freeport and reports that one bedrooms ranged from $400 to $800 a month, two bedrooms from $600 to $1,000 a month.

But let's take a drive from FWB to SoWal to go to work, shall we??

1) Leave FWB drive through town (past lots of Help Wanted Signs)
2) Over the Brooks bridge down Okaloosa Island (past lots of Help Wanted Signs)
3) Drive through Destin (Past LOTS of help wanted signs)
4) Drive past Destin Commons (Past lots of help wanted signs)
5) Drive past Silvershells Outlet shops (Past lots of help wanted signs)
6) Drive farther down 98 (More help wanted signs)
7) Turn onto whichever street leading down to 30A
8) Arrive at work 1 to 1-1/2 hours later (depending on traffic)

Then doing the same thing in reverse at night?? 5 times a week!

Why on earth would someone travel 65 miles round trip and burn up 3 gallons of gas (@ $2.25 - $2.50), while bypassing NUMEROUS businesses offering up job opportunities with comparable wages to the same jobs being offered along 30A? What do the places in SoWal offer that places in Ft Walton and Destin don't? What can they offer that will make the person residing in FWB drive all that way 5 times a week in hot, humid, high-summer-season traffic?

Oh...I dunno....HIGHER WAGES maybe??

The laws of supply and demand built SoWal up to where it is--low supply and high demand = sky-high real estate prices. Those same forces will apply to workers and wages--low supply and high demand = higher wages. What's sauce for the goose...is sauce for the waiter serving the goose.

The business folks can rationalize the problems away all they want--the rubber will meet the road when they try to find reliable, motivated and hard-working staff when summer hits and patrons waiving money want service NOW!--the managers and asst managers will be run ragged and the business owners will stand flat-footed and clueless as to why folks are not flocking to those $10-12 per hour jobs in paradise.

 

[SHELLY]

My employer got tired of having prospective employees turn down job offers over the housing issue, and has ended up building its own apartment complex so that new faculty will at least have one affordable housing option.

:clap_1:

 

[SHELLY]

http://www.legacyonthebay.com/s/homepage

4 Bedroom for $1500...not bad split 4 ways.

Condos in Destin won't even rent to people under the age of 25. I'm sure Legacy on the Bay won't be too accommodating to four 18-20 year olds sharing an apartment. Trust me on this one.